Grand Depart schedule is revealed

Cycling fans from across the Bradford district can now make specific plans ahead of the Tour de France after detailed timings for the first two stages through Yorkshire were announced.

Tour de France organisers have revealed what time the cyclists and accompanying ‘caravan’ vehicles will arrive in the towns and villages of the district on July 5 and 6.

The schedule for the Leeds-to-Harrogate section of the Grand Depart on Saturday, July 5, gives slightly different times depending on whether the cyclists are travelling at 44km/h (27mph), 42km/h (26mph) or 40km/h (24mph).

The publicity caravan will set off two hours ahead of the fastest riders, leaving Leeds at 9.10am and following the route along the A61 and then the A659 into Wharfedale.

But the first actual cyclists will depart at 11.10am and are expected to pass through Arthington at noon, Pool-in-Wharfedale at 12.06pm, and Otley just six minutes later, at 12.12pm.

The Tour’s route then makes its way along the A660, including Burley-in-Wharfedale bypass, and A65 through Ilkley, with the front riders expected to pass Addingham at 12.33pm before proceeding into North Yorkshire.

Otley Town Council – which is setting aside £10,000 to support Tour de France related events – expects the town to be heaving with up to 18,000 spectators on the day.

Meanwhile, the detailed itinerary for Sunday, July 6, shows that the ‘caravan’ vehicles are due to enter Silsden from 11.02am, with the cyclists expected in the town from 12.52pm.

The first cyclists will enter Keighley from 12.55pm onwards, and are scheduled to arrive in Cross Roads at 1.08pm.

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Caravan vehicles and riders will start to show up in Haworth at 11.22am and 1.10pm respectively and in Oxenhope from 11.32am and 1.19pm respectively.

Although the long column of cars, floats and cyclists should take about two hours to pass each point, organisers have warned that roads along the route will be closed off well in advance of the Tour’s arrival.

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